Probiotic Supplements For Dementia
Probiotics play a critical role in the bodys ability to properly absorb and process nutrients. The gut microflora the bacteria, viruses, yeasts, and other organisms living in the human digestive tract continue to show an influence on cognitive health across clinical research studies. The make-up of someones gut microflora is seen to influence the brain and behavior in diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease. Research into the ever-important role of gut flora in disease is even supported by the University of Texas Health and Science Center, one of the largest medical research centers in the world.
Additionally, there are gut microflora signatures that may be associated with the onset and progression of Alzheimers disease. Studies continuously suggest that tailoring the gut microflora with supplemental probiotics may be therapeutic for dementia.
How can I find out about a persons specific gut-flora health?
You can find out more information about your loved ones gut microflora by taking an at-home gut microbiome test, which can help you to identify deficiencies for more tailored supplement options. There are many at-home biome tests, but a popular option for home use remains the Viome Gut Intelligence Test, which can be purchased online and shipped to your home.
What supplements for dementia include probiotics?
A Look At The Evidence
Studies that observed changes in thinking of people who ate the Mediterranean or MIND diet suggest it might help the brain. For example:
- In one observational study of 116 cognitively normal adults, those who followed a Mediterranean diet had thicker cortical brain regions than those who did not. These brain regions shrink in people with Alzheimers, so having thicker regions could mean cognitive benefit.
- A follow-up observational study showed lower glucose metabolism and higher levels of beta-amyloid protein both seen in Alzheimers in people who did not follow the Mediterranean diet closely, compared to those who did.
- An analysis of diet and other factors found that, after an average of 4.5 years, people who adhered most closely to the MIND diet had a 53% reduced rate of Alzheimers disease compared to those who did not follow the diet closely.
- In a similar study, following the MIND diet was associated with a substantial slowing of cognitive decline during an average of almost 5 years.
- The Age-Related Eye Disease Studies originally looked at diet and eye disease. Further analysis by the researchers showed that people who followed the Mediterranean-style diet had a lower risk of developing cognitive problems while maintaining a higher level of cognitive function.
Can Eating Certain Foods Or Diets Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease
People often wonder if a certain diet or specific foods can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. The recent NASEM review of research did not find enough evidence to recommend a certain diet to prevent cognitive decline or Alzheimer’s. However, certain diets and healthy eating patterns have been associated with cognitive benefits. Studies of diets, such as the Mediterranean diet and the MIND dieta combination of the Mediterranean and DASH dietsare underway. Learn more about what we know about diet and the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.
For more information, read What Do We Know About Diet and Alzheimer’s Prevention?
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Evaluating The Latest Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention Research
A recent review of research looked carefully at the evidence on ways to prevent or delay Alzheimer’s dementia or age-related cognitive decline. Led by a committee of experts from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine , the review found “encouraging but inconclusive” evidence for three types of interventions:
The evidence for other interventions, such as medications and diet, was not as strong. However, scientists are continuing to explore these and other possible preventions.
Get Assistance For Your Loved Ones
Its difficult to see your loved ones struggle with memory loss. Adding vitamins for Alzheimers prevention can be very beneficial, but you may need more help and guidance.
If you want to see if assisted living is a good fit for you or your loved one, contact us today for a tour. We are happy to assist you in any way.
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Best Ways To Help Your Memory
For young and older people alike, its valuable to get your dietary vitamins from the food you eat. Supplements can fill in the gaps, but check with your doctor before you go over the recommended daily intake.
No matter your age, the best way to combat memory decline is to eat well and exercise your body and your brain. The Mediterranean diet is a good source of all the vitamins your body needs.
The Mediterranean diet has been as a way to improve memory. The hallmarks of the diet include:
- mostly plant-based foods
- limiting red meat
- using liberal amounts of olive oil to prepare meals
Diets that are similar to the Mediterranean diet include the MIND diet as well as the DASH diet. Both diets have been found to reduce the occurrence of Alzheimers disease.
The MIND diet, in particular, emphasizes the consumption of green, leafy vegetables and plant-based food in addition to the high protein and olive oil recommendations of the Mediterranean diet.
Having a strong support network and being engaged in your local community have been suggested as ways to delay or prevent dementia. Establishing healthy sleep habits can also protect your brain.
Should You Take Vitamins For Alzheimers Prevention
If you have a loved one who is struggling with memory loss and you are worried about the development of Alzheimers Disease, you may be wondering how to prevent Alzheimers. You may also wonder, is Alzheimers hereditary? If you have a parent or sibling with the disease, you are more likely to develop it as well.
While there is no cure yet for this disease, you may be able to prevent or slow the onset of it.
If you want to know how to fight dementia and Alzheimers, you may want to consider adding some powerful vitamins to a healthy diet along with engaging activities to exercise the mind.
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Can I Buy Supplements To Prevent Or Treat Dementiablog
We examine the truth behind the sale of supplements, vitamins, products and therapies that claim to prevent or treat dementia, or boost memory.
It is common to see advertisements online claiming to be a miracle cure for dementia.
Sometimes it can be difficult to know whether to trust these claims.
Unfortunately, any supplement or treatment available to purchase that claims to prevent, slow down or reverse dementia is extremely likely to be bogus.
The good news is there is support out there.
Alzheimer’s Society is here for everyone affected by dementia. We provide accurate, evidence-based advice and information.
While there is currently no cure, there are drugs and non-drug treatments that can lessen a persons symptoms of dementia.
The Facts Behind 5 Supplements
Collagen.Collagen, is one of the most abundant proteins in the body and helps form our skin, bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments. As we age, we naturally start reducing its production. Some studies show that taking collagen supplements can reduce signs of aging, increase bone density and improve joint, back and knee pain. But many of these studies are small and funded by the companies behind such products, increasing the opportunity for bias. Certain products also have flaws that reduce the likelihood of their efficacy: Topical creams, for example, are unlikely to make it into the deeper level of the skin where collagen is produced.
Magnesium.Though low levels of magnesium have been associated with various sleep disorders, the evidence for the benefits of taking it for better sleep in supplemental form is thin. In fact, most people already have sufficient levels of the mineral, which helps support immune health, blood sugar regulation, and nerve and muscle function. Magnesium is easy to get in foods including nuts, greens, seeds, beans, yogurt and fish.
Vitamin B6.This essential nutrient is involved in a number of chemical reactions that are important for the proper functioning of the immune and nervous systems. As with the other essential vitamins, the body cannot produce B6 on its own, so you can only get it from foods or supplements. Most healthy adults get more than enough vitamin B6 from their diets alone, so B6 supplements are generally not needed.
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Low To Moderate Amounts Of Alcohol
Henrik Sorensen / Digital Vision / Getty Images
This is a somewhat controversial one since there are some risks associated with drinking alcohol, but multiple research studies demonstrated a cognitive benefit for those who drank light to moderate amounts of alcohol. Some of this may be related to the resveratrol in red wine, but other research found this benefit in other kinds of alcohol as well.
Keep in mind that there are some people who should never drink alcohol, such as alcoholics, those with Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, and those for whom it will interact with their medications.
Acetylcholine Enhancers And Memory
Whatever the contributory causes to the brain damage seen in Alzheimers, once the brain damage occurs, there is memory loss. Understanding how that occurs opens up avenues for treatment.
A memory is not held in one, but in several brain cells joined together in a network. The memory itself is thought to be put into storage by the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, and stored by altering the structure of a molecule called RNA within brain cells. The limbic system, which is the doughnut on top of the brain stem, then has to decide if the memory is worth keeping. The amygdala, part of the limbic system, decides about more emotional memories, while the hippocampus decides about others. In Alzheimers the hippocampus loses its ability to file memories, resulting in an inability to create new ones. People with Alzheimers also show marked deficiencies in acetylcholine, no doubt largely because these acetylcholine-producing brain cells have been damaged or destroyed. Even if a memory is intact, without sufficient acetylcholine one cannot connect one part of the memory with others. For example, you know the face but cant remember the name.
Also of interest in the amino acid pyroglutamate, from which various nootropic drugs are derived. Early animal research indicated a potential to increase acetylcholine reception . A recent meta-analysis of studies demonstrates a difference between those individuals treated with nootropic medication and those given placebo.
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Can Controlling High Blood Pressure Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease
Controlling high blood pressure is known to reduce a person’s risk for heart disease and stroke. The NASEM committee of experts concluded that managing blood pressure when it’s high, particularly for middle-aged adults, also might help prevent or delay Alzheimer’s dementia.
Many types of studies show a connection between high blood pressure, cerebrovascular disease , and dementia. For example, it’s common for people with Alzheimer’s-related changes in the brain to also have signs of vascular damage in the brain, autopsy studies show. In addition, observational studies have found that high blood pressure in middle age, along with other cerebrovascular risk factors such as diabetes and smoking, increase the risk of developing dementia.
Clinical trialsthe gold standard of medical proofare underway to determine whether managing high blood pressure in individuals with hypertension can prevent Alzheimer’s dementia or cognitive decline.
One large clinical trialcalled SPRINT-MIND found that lowering systolic blood pressure to less than 120 mmHg, compared to a target of less than 140 mmHg, did not significantly reduce the risk of dementia. Participants were adults age 50 and older who were at high risk of cardiovascular disease but had no history of stroke or diabetes.
Vitamin D And Cognitive Decline: Neuroimaging Studies
Based on the available evidence from epidemiological studies it is plausible that vitamin D deficiency could be linked with pathological changes in the brain associated with neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular disorders . Furthermore, investigating the association between vitamin D concentrations and neuroimaging abnormalities could provide an insight into the potential mechanisms underlying the association with dementia-related disorders.
As reviewed above, two animal studies have examined the effect of vitamin D deficiency on the structural development of the brain. Compared to control rats born to vitamin D3 sufficient mothers, rats born to vitamin D3 deficient mothers had a 30% increase in hemisphere length, which suggests defected cortex development during embryogenesis . Moreover, vitamin D3 deficient pups had a 200% increase in lateral ventricle volume, which is indicative of atrophy in the surrounding regions. In a similar study, rats with transient vitamin D3 deficiency during early development demonstrated enlarged lateral ventricular volume in adulthood compared to control rats .
Table 2: Overview of cross-sectional neuroimaging studies investigating the association between vitamin D and neuroimaging outcomes in elderly adults
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Other Natural Remedies For Dementia
The following are the leaders in natural herbal remedies for dementia symptoms, with promising phytochemical research all their own. Many of these substances come from plants, herbs, and other sources found in nature, some of which have been used in traditional medicine practices for thousands of years. Not only can you find these in supplement form, like capsules, drops, and powders, but many of them can be easily added to recipes and drinks to supplement the diet in their whole food form.
Layering supplementation in this way will only increase the bodys stores of these important phytochemicals.
Natural Supplements And Vitamins For Treatment And Prevention Of Dementia And Cognitive Decline
Psychiatric Times
Here: a look at several natural products used to improve cognitive impairment or cognitive symptoms of dementia.
Dementia, also referred to as major neurocognitive disorder , is a growing problem because of increased lifespan. There is no known cure. Several drugs are FDA-approved for the treatment of dementia, including acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, but these have limited efficacy, adverse effects, and significant cost-all of which contribute to the search for alternative therapies to improve cognition.
In this article, we look at several natural products used to improve cognitive impairment or cognitive symptoms of dementia .
Ginkgo biloba
A popular supplement for cognition is ginkgo biloba, which is extracted from the leaf of the Maidenhair tree. Although it has been used as a supplement in the US, in many European countries it is part of mainstream medical care and requires a prescription. A standardized extract called EGb 761 is prescribed in many countries outside of the US.
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9 Natural Supplements for Cognitive Impairment
reduce the excitotoxic effects of glutamate. Finally, the flavonoids serve as antioxidants that reduce the damage caused by free radicals.
Omega-3 fatty acids
Ginseng
Huperzine
Vitamins B12 and B9
Vitamin D
Coconut oil/caprylidene
Resveratrol and curcumin
Disclosures:
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Taking B Vitamins Wont Prevent Alzheimers Disease
Taking B vitamins doesn’t slow mental decline as we age, nor is it likely to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, conclude Oxford University researchers who have assembled all the best clinical trial data involving 22,000 people to offer a final answer on this debate.
High levels in the blood of a compound called homocysteine have been found in people with Alzheimer’s disease, and people with higher levels of homocysteine have been shown to be at increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Taking folic acid and vitamin B-12 are known to lower levels of homocysteine in the body, so this gave rise to the ‘homocysteine hypothesis’ that taking B vitamins could reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
The new analysis was carried out by the B-Vitamin Treatment Trialists’ Collaboration, an international group of researchers led by the Clinical Trial Service Unit at the University of Oxford. The researchers brought together data from 11 randomised clinical trials involving 22,000 people which compared the effect of B vitamins on cognitive function in older people against placebo. Participants receiving B vitamins did see a reduction in the levels of homocysteine in their blood by around a quarter. However, this had no effect on their mental abilities.
Taking folic acid and vitamin B-12 is sadly not going to prevent Alzheimer’s disease
Dr Robert Clarke
Myth : There Are No Natural Supplements That Actually Benefit People With Alzheimers
You may hear that natural supplements have no benefits from But, when we asked Dacks if theres a supplement that the ADDF is keeping a particularly close eye on, she replied, Souvenaid is a promising cocktail of nutritional supplements with some clinical evidence to suggest that it can benefit Alzheimers patients. Doctors can prescribe it as a medical food in some countries but it is not yet available in the United States.
A recent randomized, controlled study of the effects of Souvenaid in patients with mild Alzheimers showed increased memory performance after periods of both 12 and 24 weeks.
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I’m Considering Taking A Dementia Supplement
If you are considering purchasing and taking a supplement that claims to prevent or treat dementia or memory issues, ensure you discuss this with your doctor before doing so.
Dr Fiona Carragher, Chief Policy and Research Officer at Alzheimer’s Society, explains the importance of trusted sources.
‘We are aware of companies marketing supplements online with misleading evidence that they can prevent or even treat dementia.
What About Vitamins And Supplements
Observational studies and clinical trials have looked at many over-the-counter vitamins and dietary supplements, including vitamins B and E and gingko biloba, to prevent Alzheimers disease or cognitive decline. The idea is that these dietary add-ons might attack oxidative damage or inflammation, protect nerve cells, or influence other biological processes involved in Alzheimers.
Despite early findings of possible benefits for brain health, no vitamin or supplement has been proven to work in people. Overall, evidence is weak as many studies were too small or too short to be conclusive.
Take DHA for example. Studies in mice showed that this omega-3 fatty acid, found in salmon and certain other fish, reduced beta-amyloid plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimers. However, clinical trials in humans have had mixed results. In a study of 485 older adults with age-related cognitive decline, those who took a DHA supplement daily for 24 weeks showed improved learning and memory, compared to those who took a placebo. Another study of 4,000 older adults conducted primarily to study eye disease concluded that taking omega-3 supplements, alone or with other supplements, did not slow cognitive decline.
For more information, visit the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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